Modular mechanical refrigeration unit

Abstract

A modular self-contained mechanical refrigeration unit adapted to form one wall of a refrigeration appliance is relatively thin and includes all of the electrical, mechanical and control components of the sealed refrigeration system.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A mechanical refrigeration unit adapted to form a relatively thin wall portion of a refrigeration apparatus, comprising a main divider wall spaced from an inner wall of said unit and having a first layer of insulating material on the side thereof facing said inner wall, an evaporator mounted on said divider wall and positioned between said first layer and said inner wall, fan means mounted on said divider wall below said evaporator for moving air over said evaporator and having an inlet facing said inner wall, and a second layer of insulating material positioned between said evaporator and said fan means, said second layer being shaped to form an air duct between said evaporator and said inlet of said fan means, thereby to facilitate the drawing of air downwardly over said evaporator. 
     
     
       2. A mechanical refrigeration unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner wall is provided with a first group of upper opening positioned above said evaporator and a second group of lower openings spaced laterally from said fan means, said air duct being positioned so that air is drawn inwardly through said first group of upper openings, downwardly over said evaporator, through said fan means and outwardly through said second group of lower openings into the space to be cooled. 
     
     
       3. A mechanical refrigerator unit adapted to form a relatively thin wall portion of a refrigeration apparatus, comprising inner and outer vertically extending walls of substantially the same height, a central divider wall extending vertically between said inner and outer walls and having a layer of insulating material on one side thereof facing said inner wall, each of said inner anD outer walls having upper and lower openings therein, an evaporator mounted on said one side of said divider wall and spaced therefrom by said layer of insulating material, a condenser mounted on the other side of said divider wall, first fan means mounted on said divider wall below saiD evaporator and said condenser for drawing air from the space to be cooled inwardly through said upper openings in said inner wall, downwardly over said evaporator and outwardly through said lower openings in said inner wall into the space to be cooled, and second fan means mounted on said divider wall below said evaporator and said condenser for drawing air from the exterior inwardly through said lower openings in said outer wall, upwardly over said condenser, and outwardly through said upper openings in said outer wall. 
     
     
       4. A mechanical refrigerator unit as recited in claim 3 further including a single fan motor mounted on said divider wall and carrying said first and second fan means on opposite ends of the rotor shaft thereof. 
     
     
       5. A mechanical refrigeration unit as recited in claim 4 wherein said fan motor is mounted on said other side of said divider wall with said rotor shaft thereof extending transversely to said divider wall. 
     
     
       6. A mechanical refrigeration unit as recited in claim 3 further including first shroud means mounted on said divider wall and surrounding said first fan means for directing air drawn downwardly over said evaporator into the inlet of said first fan means, said first shroud means also directing air from the outlet of said first fan means through said lower openings in said inner wall. 
     
     
       7. A mechanical refrigeration unit as recited in claim 3 further including second shroud means mounted on said divider wall and surrounding said second fan means for directing exterior air inwardly through said lower openings in said outer wall into the inlet of said second fan means, said second shroud means also directing air from the outlet of said second fan means over said condenser. 
     
     
       8. A mechanical refrigeration unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said second layer of insulating material partially surrounds said evaporator and is shaped to form an air duct between said evaporator and the inlet of said first fan means. 
     
     
       9. A mechanical refrigeration unit as set forth in claim 3, which includes a compressor mounted on said divider wall below said condenser and offset laterally from said second fan means. 
     
     
       10. A mechanical refrigeration unit adapted to form a thin wall portion of a refrigeration apparatus, comprising an outer vertically extending wall having upper and lower openings therein, a support member having a vertically extending portion spaced from said outer wall, a condenser mounted on said portion and positioned between said support member and said outer wall, a compressor mounted on said support member beneath said condenser, a layer of insulating material on the opposite side of said support from said condenser, an evaporator positioned adjacent said insulating layer, a fan motor mounted on said support member below said evaporator and said condenser, the rotor of said fan motor rotating about a generally horizontal axis and having a shaft extending from each end thereof, a condenser fan mounted on one end of said rotor shaft adjacent said lower openings in said outer wall, means for directing air from said condenser fan over said condenser and out said upper openings in said outer wall, an inner vertically extending wall of substantially the same height as said outer wall and having upper and lower openings therein, said inner wall being positioned inwardly of said evaporator, an evaporator fan mounted on the other end of said rotor shaft and having an inlet adjacent to and laterally offset from said lower openings in said inner wall, said evaporator fan pulling air inwardly through said upper openings in said inner wall, downwardly over said evaporator, and into the interior of the refrigeration apparatus through said lower openings in said inner wall, said layer of insulating material being shaped to form an air duct which directs air which has been pulled over said evaporator into said inlet of said evaporator fan. 
     
     
       11. A mechanical refrigeration unit as recited in claim 10 further including shroud means surrounding said evaporator fan for directing air from said evaporator fan through said lower openings in said inner wall. 
     
     
       12. A mechanical refrigeration unit as recited in claim 10 wherein said inner wall includes a translucent panel portion, an access light source mounted on said divider wall adjacent said panel portion of said inner wall and means for energizing said access light source during periods when a movable closure member of said refrigeration apparatus is open. 
     
     
       13. A mechanical refrigeration unit as recited in claim 12 further including an aluminum heat shield mounted on said divider wall and surrounding said evaporator, said access light source being mounted in said heat shield.